ServiceMax Blog: Archive for July, 2018

Reasons We Recommend USB Outlet Installation

Monday, July 30th, 2018

electrical-outlet-wallOutlets have changed significantly over the decades. Once, homes only had two-pronged outlets. Later, three-pronged grounded outlets became the standard. Now GFCI and AFCI outlets help homes to maintain greater safety with even more powerful electrical loads.

One of the most interesting and convenient developments in outlets is the USB outlet, a completely new type of outlet that allows USB cables for tablets, phones, and other portable devices to connect right into the wall for charging. More new homes are coming with USB outlets already installed near the standard outlets. If you’re a homeowner, you don’t have to wait before you buy a new home to enjoy USB outlets: you only have to contact an electrician in Niles, IL to have these useful outlets installed.

Our licensed and experienced electricians offer USB installation (as well as GFCI and AFCI outlet installation). Here are the reasons we recommend homeowners call to schedule this service:

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Is an Air Conditioning System Enough to Control Humidity?

Monday, July 16th, 2018

flushed-man-in-front-of-fanWhen your air conditioning system is running during a humid summer day—and we get plenty of those in Chicagoland—you’ll occasionally hear a dripping sound coming from the unit. This isn’t because the AC uses water to help cool down the house. The only type of cooling system that does that is an evaporative cooler. What you’re hearing is the water moisture the air conditioner has drawn out of the air with the evaporator coil dripping down into a condensate pan and then being drained outside through a condensate drain line. This collection of moisture is a natural result of the evaporator coil absorbing heat from inside the house to cool the air.

This makes it sound like the air conditioner is also a dehumidifier. But this is not really the case. An air conditioner on its own usually isn’t sufficient to properly dehumidify a house. It can provide cooling to help you feel cooler, but when the relative humidity is above 60%, the AC won’t do much to lower it to comfortable levels.

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5 Things We Wish Everybody Knew About Air Conditioning

Monday, July 2nd, 2018

air-conditioning-collageThe air conditioning system is just a way of life. Homes are now constructed with central air conditioning in mind, and even vintage buildings can enjoy powerful air conditioning without using window units thanks to ductless mini splits.

But even though ACs are everywhere, they’re still poorly understood. Below is a list of five things we want people to know about air conditioning. These bits of knowledge makes it easier to care for an AC and to know when to call on trained HVAC professionals to fix and maintain them.

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